A review by lea_talisa
Still Beating by Jennifer Hartmann

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.75

This was great! It was also absolutely heart breaking and sad but through all of that I loved the story of Cora and Dean.

Normally we get to see kidnappings in books only as another thing happening to make the plot more interesting and often the aftershocks aren’t even mentioned. I love that in this book the main focus is actually on these effects after the kidnapping. There’s deep trauma, overwhelming emotions and feelings of betrayal. But there’s also new found trust, hope, love and most importantly healing.

I loved accompanying both Cora and Deacon along their own and very different ways of coping. It’s a rollercoaster going up as much as down always trying to find balance with each other when in the end they find balance in their own selves.
There are a lot of setbacks and the book ends with a Happy Ever After.

This story touched my heart. There were parts I could hardly get through and was near tears praying for the characters to find a way out of their misery (during as well as after the kidnapping). 
Check the trigger warnings on this one! Most of it is graphic and this is definitely not a lovely romance where “love conquers all”. Though there definitely are some parts like that the majority of this book is about trauma and healing; together as well as alone, yet always supported. 
I’m sure I’ll be thinking about this book a lot even a long time after I’ve read it. This is just the kind of story that sticks to you through its darkness and personal connection.


Quotes (maybe contain minor spoilers?):

„We are bound, chained, tied—to our trauma and to each other.
We’re in this together.“

„My whole life I’ve been terrified of the ocean. I’ve been scared of being dragged down into a cold, dark sea, swallowed by waves, clutching my chest and gasping for air.
But this sea is not made of water.
And maybe drowning is the only way out.“

„The only thing I wanted more was to see her smile.
I wanted to see her glowing and thriving and truly living her life.
I wanted to see her just like this, just like she is right now, happy and healing and learning to love herself again.
So, it’s all been worth it“
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